It's been 91 years since a small hot dog joint in New Jersey concocted a the Italian hotdog. Jimmy Buff's, with locations in West Orange and Kenilworth, recently its celebrated 91-year anniversary. "WOW! 91 YEARS! On August 1, 1932, my grandparents opened a small eatery serving their Italian Style hot dogs and sausages," wrote Jimmy Buff's of West Orange. 

The first location at the corner of 14th Ave. and 9th St. in Newark was where the hotdog with an Italian twist was first concocted by the founder James "Bluff" Racioppi in 1932, according to hott dog joint. "Grandpa got his nickname from his style at the card table. Translation from Italian to English came up with the nickname "BUFF". In the 20s and 30s everyone had a nickname and hence James Racioppi became known as "Jimmy Buff".